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James Mair

James Mair

M, #1543, b. 8 May 1802, d. 23 November 1857

James Mair was born on 8 May 1802 at Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland.1,2 He was baptized on 9 May 1802 at Parish of Cullen, Banffshire, Scotland.1 He was the son of William Mair and Ann Wood. His family was known by the tee-name of "Shavie". James Mair was a fisherman. He was the skipper of the fishing boat 'Tenpence.' He married Catherine Wood at Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland, on 16 November 1826.3,2 James died on 23 November 1857 at sea, off Portsoy, Banffshire, Scotland, at age 55. He perished with the Portknockie fishing boat 'Tenpence' that foundered off Portsoy during a storm. The entire crew were lost. They were James Mair "Shavie" (skipper), William Mair "Shavie", James Mair "Shavie", James Wood "Park", Alexander Wood "Royal", George Wood "Royal", John Sclater "Hassar", James Wood "Post" and George Pirie "Dod".4,2,5,6

[S4491] James Mair, Register of Deaths in the District of Seafield in the County of Banff, "Mair James Fisherman (Married), died 1857, November Twenty-third about 4h P.M. At Sea, Residence Portknockie, Male, 54 years, Father: William Mair Farmer (Deceased), Mother: Ann Mair Maiden Name Wood (Deceased), Cause of death: Drowned, Burial place: Body not found at date of Registration, Informant: Alexander Mair, Son, 212 Portknockie, Registered: 1857, Decr. 5th at Portknockie, Jas Cumming Registrar."

[S2393] Storm on the East Coast and Great Loss of Life, Caledonian Mercury, "STORM ON THE EAST COAST, AND GREAT LOSS OF LIFE(From our Aberdeen correspondent)On Monday morning, a great number of the fishing boats on the coast north of Banff left their stations to proceed to the Dogger Bank, 30 miles distant, to prosecute the fishing for haddocks. They had scarcely reached the fishing-ground when a heavy storm came on with such suddenness as to leave but little hope of their reaching the shore in safety. Great anxiety was manifested by relatives and others, who crowded the headlands, looking eagerly seaward. Rumours of disaster were rife before night; which alas, were but too fully verified on Tuesday morning. Two boats belonging to Port-Knockie have been lost, with all on board – eighteen men. One Port-Gordon boat came on shore about a mile to the east of Cullen; her crew, nine in number, have perished. A schooner, the Janet and Ann, of Inveresk, came on shore near Whitehills, with not a living soul on board. She has been dashed to pieces on the rocks. The names of the Port-Knockie crews are – George Pirie (skipper), married; James and John Mair, brothers, the former married; William Mair and James Mair, uncles of the former; John Innes, John Mair, John Wood (married); second crew – James Mair (Shavie), (married) and his two sons; W. James, George and Alexander Wood, brothers, the former married; James Wood (Park), George Pirie (married), George Slate (sic) (married), James Wood, Post (married). Two boats belonging to Buckie have also been lost, one of which, with eight men on board, was wrecked at the entrance to the harbour, and immediately in view of the wives and children of the unfortunate men. The other boat, containing seven men, and running for Cromarty, was swamped at sea, and came ashore near Nairn. Her name is The Pink of Buckie. During the gale, 18 boats ran ashore on the sands to the east of Buckie; their crews fortunately were saved, but several of the boats were seriously damaged. One boat, in attempting to take Buckie harbour, was dashed to pieces, but the crew were saved. It is estimated that altogether 42 men have lost their lives, the greater number of whom leave widows and children to lament their loss. The storm was felt all along the north coast."